Head-rest for corpses



(No Model.)

G. B. DOLGE. HEAD REST FQR GORPSES.

Patented Nov. 7 1893.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARLB. Down, or WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT.

HEAID-REST FOR CORPSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,093, dated November 7, 1893.

Application filed February 6, 1893. Serial No. 461,140. (No model.)

I lowing to be a full, clear, and exact descripbe communicated to others thereafter unless tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 7

My invention relates to pillow head rests for the dead and its novelty consists in the construction and adaptation of the parts as will be more fully hereinafter pointed out.

In the interval between death and the plac;

ing of a corpse in the usual burial casket for final disposition, it is prepared for burial in sundry ways, by cleansing, embalming and making it more presentable for the ceremo nies that usually take place at the funeral. During this interval, the corpse is usually laid upon a cooling or embalming board, and, r

as it is desirous to make its appearance as natural as possible, a head rest is usually placed under the head. When this is done, or astuffed pillow employed, there are disadvantages resulting therefrom, the head can not always be adjusted in a natural position owing to differences in size and shape of the neck in different bodies; if death has been caused by any infectious disease it is apt to pains are taken to destroy the pillow, and this is not always done, and also when there is a wound in the head secretions sometimes render such impromptu head rests offensive. It is the purpose of my invention to overcome these disadvantages. and to that end I have invented a device which is capable of vertical adjustment, which is non absorbent, sightly in appearance, is readily cleaned and which may be folded before or after use into compact shape for convenience in carrying. In the drawings, in which the same letters refer to the same parts in all of the figures, Figure l is avertical section and partial plan view of my pillow when it is unfolded. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same when the outline of the pillow iscurved. Fig. 3 is a similar view when the outline is rectangular, and Fig. 4 is a similarview when it is folded for transportation.

face.

In the drawings A is a rod of metal, or other suitable material, wholly or partly threaded externally and provided at its lower extremity with a nut a. At the top of the rod A is rigidly secured a concave plate Band underneath this plate is a second plate 1) pro- .vided with apertures b adapted to receive the ends of the ribs 0 the upper surfaces of which taken together form the upper supporting surface of the pillow and which may move freely laterally. At the lower end of the rod A is adjustably secured the plate D provided with apertures d adapted to receive the other ends of the ribs 0 and which plate is made adjustable on the rod A by means of the flanged which interlocks with the sleeve 5 of the thumb screw S which is threaded internally and adapted to move along the rod A and engage with the threads cut in its sur- In use, the lower end of the rod A is passed through an aperture in the board or plank P on which the body rests and is secured in place by means of the not a. The entire upper surface of the ribs 0 and the head plate B is then raised or lowered by turning the thumb screw S and with it the adjusting plate D, and after the desired adjustrnent is finally secured the nut ais tightened in place. Acloth is then thrown on the upper surface of the ribs and the pillow is ready for thereception of the head. After use, the pillow is removed from the board and the ribs folded as shown in Fig. 4:, for ease in carrying ,it. Preferably after using, the apparatus should be thoroughly cleaned in water and immersed in some antiseptic fluid like carbolic acid so that no deleterious matter may adhere to it. The shape which the ribs may be made to assume,while opened, is a matter of taste but I have illustrated in Fig. 4. one of my pillows having substantially a square outline when draped with a cloth.

Considerable modifications in detail may be made with my invention without departing from its essential principles. The adj ustment along the rod A may be by meansof a set screw; difierent materials may be employed, for instance, the flexible ribs might be made of rattan or whalebone made nonabsorbent by treatment with shellac or in some other suitable manner, and the ribs may be secured to the head plate and adj ustframework of ribs, means for adjusting the same vertically, and the ends of which are is pivoted, whereby the frame work may be folded when not in use, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed the specification in the presence of two subscrib- 2o ing witnesses.

CARL B. DOLGE.

Witnesses:

H. E. SHERWOOD, W. G. STAPLES. 

